Ttoderswungr cam buckle



June' 9, 1925. 1,541,452

W. WALLENTHIN UNDERSWUNG CAM BUCKLE pile@ April 1v. 19123 ATTORNEY Patented June 9, 1925.

unirse stares WALFRID IALLENTHIN, OF ATTLIBG CIATED ATTLEBOBO JIANUFACTURERS,

CORPORATION 01? MASSACHUSETTS.

RO, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 W. W. ASSO- ING., .ATTLEBORQ MASSACHUSETTS, A

Unnunswune CAM BUCKLE.

Application filed Ap1-1117,1923. semi No. 632,788. A

To all whom t may concern.'

Beit known that I, IVALFRID VVALLENTHIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Attleboro, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Underswung Cam Buckles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to buckles of the type wherein a pivoted cam provides the band gripping means. i

An object of my invention is to provide a buckle equipped with an underswung pivoted cam gripping member for more effectually gripping and binding the inserted band. I am awa-re that it is old in the art to provide buckles of the general pivoted cam type. In my invention, however, a cam is pivoted in such a manner that as it is swung into gripping position .it is pulled under rather than over its pivot points.

A further objectv of my invention is to provide in a buckle of the type described a swinging cam lever of the second class. Cams of this general type may be considered as levers. Hitherto the work arm or gripping portion of the cam lever has been situated on the opposite side of the fulcrum or pivot points thereof from the power arm or band attaching extensiom'thus providing a lever of the first class` In my invention, however, the gripping portion or work arm of the cam lever is 'tuated between the fulcrum or pivot points thereof and the band attaching extension or power arm thereof. As the gripping portion is preferably of a general convex shape, it is therefore possible to mount it in much tion to the band, thereby permitting the use of a minimum amount of metal. It is obvious that due both to the underswung feature mentioned above, and tothe fact that a lever of the second class is employed. that a llesser amount of material is required to make a workable lever, that it may be more easily released, that it is at all times near the band, and that it is more sure in its binding-action. From its inherent structure the gripping portion is ab'le to Jfunction through a much wider arc, than has heretofore been possible with overswung typesI of cams, cam levers of other classes, and Zother types' of clams or gripping means employed, thus permitting its use on arm bands, guitars,

closer functional relaetc., where the object to be gripped is of small diameter, and where comparatively the cam must function at a greater angle to the tangent at the gripping point than for belts. Overswung cams and cam levers of the rst class especially where forced to function at a comparatively large angle to the tangent at the gripping point, will tend to lose their grip. It is obvious that the opy veration of setting the buckle Vis greatly facilnecessary to partially and the stretching of to pivot further itated, for it is only close the cam by hand, the band will cause the cam and more eifectually bite in and grip the band'. As the gripping portionv is forced down against the band, it will more readily and successfuly function than whereL itis forced up and around against it as in former types. Further stretching of the band only makes the buckle function better.

A further object of my invention is to provide a buckle having a convex gripping surface of slight curvature. It is due to this feature that many of the advantages mentioned in the preceding paragraph are possible. I

Al further object of my invention is to provide a buckle wherein the cam willr automatically adjust itself to accommodate varying thicknesses of belts.

A further obj ect of my invention is to provide a swinging cam with atransverse slot into which portions of the rough surface of the band are forced, and with teeth if desired to thereby more effectually grip and bind the band.

A further object of my invention is-to provide a buckle having a cam which will be stamped out in its entirety of a single piece of metal, thereby obviating the necessity for and complications of having separate piecesV for the pin, gripping member, bail or loop, plate etc. of former types.

These and such other objects of my invention as may hereinafter appear will be best understood from ay description of one embodiment thereof, such as is shown in the accompanying drawings applied to a belt buckle.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevaf 'tion of the' buckle 1n, operative position.

l Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken alii'gl the; linea-a @f rig. 1. Y

Fig. 3 is a `lon("gitiidiu'aa'l Fig. 2 illustrating how the buckle still functions when the cam is only partially closed. ig. 4 is a longitudinal section similar to Fig. 2, showing the cam in open position. Fig; 5 is a cross section taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

6 is a plan View of the pivoted cam member.

Fig. 7 is an end view of the pivoted cam member.

In the. drawings, wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout. 1 designates generally thebinding member, provided with the pivot flanges 2 at each side thereof, said iianges being provided with holes 3, for mounting the pivoted or swinging cam mcmber'4 therein. For the purposesl of my invention the member 1 may merelyy comprise a simple cross bar withV pivot anges at each side thereof. l have illustrated it in the drawings, however, as comprising the front plate or casing 1, common in belt buckles of the type shown, provided with the side flanges 2 which serve as .pivotV flanges, and also to keep the free end 5 of the band 6` in place, and the turned over lips to further encase said free end 5.

It is obvious that due to the convex shape of the gripping surface 15 of the cam, that the cam will swing into gripping position as heretofore explained. lVhen different thicknesses of belts are used, it is evident that the cam will adjust itself to a firm gripping position intermediate the positions shown in Figures 2 and 3, said position dependng upon the thickness of the belt used. This feature is not possible where semicircular cams of small diameter are used, as in former types.

It is clear that I have provided a buckle of simple construction, composed of two members only, each of which may be conveniently stamped out of a single piece of metal, which members perform in a better and more efficient manner all of the functions of the many members of former types, as well as the new functions heretofore exl pl'ained.

The cam' member 4 is preferably stamped out of one piece of metal, so as to make all portions thereof integral with the others. The cam member 4 is provided with a gripping portion having an extended gripping surface of convex shape l5 for gripping the free end of the belt against the binding member. And in my preferred embodiment the `entire gripping portion 14 is shown of a general concave-convex structure, (Fig. 7). Thus in my preferred embodiment the gripping, portionA is 4integrally attached to the side flange 16' which projects rearwardly therefrom.V

On each side of the cam member are placed the pivotal projections or pinftles 1Q, which thus extend laterally from said side flanges 16 of my preferred embodiment near the inner end of said cam member 14. It is thus obvious that the. gripping portion 14 extends integrally outward-ly from said pivotal lugs and that said gripping surface 15 is integrally offset from said lugs on pintles 10 so that the gripping surface. 15 may freely pivot away from the surface of the band. At the opposite outer end 21 of said cam member 4 is situated the band attaching extension means, which preferably comprises the bail 1l integral therewith,.and which thus extends integrally outwardly therefrom at the outer end thereof. Itis thus obvious that the cam member 4 is one integral unit, comprising in my preferred embodiment a memberhaving the pivotal lugs 10 extending laterally therefrom near the inner end thereof, side flanges 16 projecting .forwardly from said lugs 10, a gripping portion 14 having an extended surface- 15 of convex shape of slight curva-ture for gripping the free end 20 of a belt 6 against the binding member 1 integrally attached to said side flanges 16 and extending outwardly from said pivotal lugs 10 and a bail 11 extending integrally outwardly therefrom' for permanent attachment thereto of the belt end 12. As the pintles 10 are mounted on the side fianges 16 of the cam member 4, it is obvious that the gripping portion 15 will be integrally offset from said lugs 10. One end 12 of the band 6 vis conveniently fastened around said bail 11, leaving the other end 5 free as Stated. pintles or pivotal lugs 10' and the bail or band attaching extension or power arm 1l is placed the work arm 0r band gripping portion 14 of said cam 4, thus providing a cam lever of the second class. The gripping surface 15 of said portion 14 vis preferably of a general convex structure as shown in Fig. 7 and may b e provided if desired with a transverse slot 17 and teeth 18 for more effectually biting in and gri ping the surface of the band 6. The pivotal lugs 10 of the cam member 4 are inserted in the pivot holes 3 in the pivot flanges 2 situated at each side of the binding member 1, and the end 12 of the band 6 permanently fastened as at 19 to the bail l1. As stated, the pivot holesB are preferably so' Situated .on the pivot flanges 2 .of the binding member l, as to allow such a distance between the binding member 1 and said pivot holes 3, that as the cam lmember 4 is swung into operative position, the gripping portion 14 thereof biting` against the surface of the inserted free end 5 of the band 6, it will swing entirely .underneath said pivot holes 3, ll employ the word band to include any member, preferably flexible, employed to encircle or bind any' desired object to any other,.-suehas a belt band., armA band, leg bandi, or garter, etc.

BetweenV said For a ,reasonto be explained, my invention Ais peculiarly adapted for use with a band binding an object of comparatively small diameter such as an arm or leg.

In operation, the cam member 4 is swung around to the open position shown in Fig. 4. to allow the free end 5 of the band 6 to be. conveniently inserted between said cam 4 and binding member l. The free end 5 of the band G is pulled through, and the band tightened the desired amount.

The cam 4 is either manually closed the entire distance as shown in Fig. 2 or swung to the approximate position shown in Fig. 3. lVhen in the position shown in Fig. 3,.the gripping portion 14 of the cam 4 will start to function against the inserted free end 5 of the band 6, and the stretching of the band 6 will cause the cam 4 to automatically swing to the position shown in Fig. 2, due to the fact that it is underswung and a cam lever of the second class is employed as explained. To unbuckle, it is merely necessary to manually swing the cam to the position shown in Fig. 4, where the free end 5 of the band 6 may be readily loosened or pulled out.

Figs. 2 and 5 illustrate how rough portions 20 of the surface of the free end 5 of the band 6 sink into the transverse slot 17 thus more tightly and effectually holding the band 6 in position.

Fig. 3 illustrates the reason why my invention is peculiarly adapted to bind an obliect of comparatively small diameter such as an arm or leg, and shows how due to the inherent underswung construction of the cam 4, and to the fact that a cam lever of a second class is employed, the gripping portion 14 thereof is able to function through a wide arc, and even function at a comparatively great angle to the tangent at the gripping point. One may visualize Fig. 3 as comprising a simple cross bar binding member l with the cam member 4 suitably pivoted to the flanges 2 situated at each end thereof, employed on an object of small diameter such as an arm, and thus see how well my invention will function under such conditions.

I employ the terms forwardly and rearwardly relative to the radial position ofl the buckle on the wearers body and the terms inner and outer relative to the centre line of the buckle.

It is understood that my invention is not limited to the specific embodiments shown and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

'What I claim asv new and desire to secure as Letters Patent is:

1, In a buckle, the combination of a binding member provided with pivot langeslon each side thereof and a cam member having pivotal lugs extending laterally therefrom' ythe free end of a belt against near the Vinner end thereof, side flanges proiecting forwardly from said lugs, a gripping portion having an extended surface of convex shape of slight curvature for gripping said binding member integrally attached to said side `anges and .extending outwardly from said .pivotal lugs and a .bail extending integrally ,outwardly therefrom for permanent attachment thereto of a belt end, said cam member being pivoted on the flanges of the binding member. f

2. In a buckle, the combination of a binding member provided with pivot flanges on each side thereof and a cam member having pivotal lugs extending laterally therefrom near the inner end thereof, side flanges projecting forwardly from said lugs, a gripping portion having an extended surface of convex shape for gripping the free end of a belt against said binding member integrally attached to said side flanges and extending outwardly from said pivotal lugs and a bail extending integrally outwardly therefrom for permanent attachment thereto of a belt end, said cam member being pivoted on the flanges of the binding member.

3. In a buckle, the combination of a binding member provided with pivot flanges on each side thereof and a cam member having pivotal lugs extending laterally therefrom near the inner end thereof, side flanges projecting forwardly from said lugs, a gripping portion having an extended surface convex on every line of section for gripping the freeend of a belt against said binding member integrally attached to ,said side flanges and extending outwardly from said pivotal lugs and a bail extending integrally outwardly therefrom for permanent attachment thereto of a belt end, said cam member being pivoted on the flanges of the binding member.

4. In a buckle, the combination of a binding member provided with pivot flanges on each side thereof and a cam member having pivotal lugs extending laterally therefrom near the inner end thereof, side flanges projecting forwardly from said lugs, a gripping portion having an extended surface of convex shape of slight curvature provided with transverse slots for gripping the free end of a belt against said binding member integrally attached to said side flanges and extending outwardly from said pivotal lugs and a bail extending integrally outwardly therefrom for permanent attachment thereto of a belt end, said cam member being pivoted on the flanges of the binding member.

5. In a buckle, the combination of a binding member provided with pivot flanges on each side thereof and a cam member having pivotal lugs extending laterally therefrom near thenner end thereof, side flanges projecting forwardly from said lugs, a gripping portion having an extended surface of Convex shape of slight curvature provided with transverse slots and teeth for gripping the free end of a belt against said binding meniber integrally attached to said side flanges and extending outwardly from said pivotal lugs and a bail extending integrally outwardly therefrom for permanent attachment thereto of a belt end, said cam member being pivoted on the flanges of the binding member.

6, In a buckle7 the combination of a binding member provided with pivot flanges on each side thereof and a Cain member having pivotal lugs extending laterally therefrom near the inner end thereof, side flanges projecting forwardly from said lugs, ay gripping portion having` a. surface for gripping the free. end of a belt against said binding member integrally attached to said side flanges and extending .outwardly from said pivotal lugs and a bail extending integrally outwardly therefrom for permanent attachment thereto of a belt end, said cam member being pivoted on the flanges of the binding member.

In testimony whereof l affix my signature.

VVALFRID vWALLENTHIN. 

